Camping at V is all part of the festival experience - even if you live within a few miles of the site.

Dan Blowers

According to ROB JORDAN, you can actually see his house from the campsite. He said: "I live just up the road but I've always camped at the festival since it first began. I do it because it's a bit of fun and I love the atmosphere here."

DAN BLOWERS, of Coggeshall, has also been camping at the festival right from the start. He said: "Friday night is always the best night because everyone's really up for the weekend. People tend to be a bit lethargic on Sunday morning."

Dan said he had learned over the years the essentials needed to camp at the festival.

He said: "The five main essentials are a tent, stove, plenty of water, my guitar and beer."

Two girls who might have benefited from some of Dan's advice were Colchester Sixth Form students KARYN BAILEY, 18, of Halstead, and DEBS TURNER, 18, of Great Yeldham.

Festival first-timers, they had borrowed a tent belonging to Karyn's dad.

Karyn said: "It's almost 20 years old. It has been a bit soggy and let a draft inside but it has served us alright."

When we caught up with the girls, they were warming up some water on their stove in order to wash their hair.

Debs added: "The queues for the showers are so long this is the quickest way to do it."

Published Monday August 23, 2004